Craig Joubert is a professional referee from South Africa who, like many in the trade, followed his father into picking up a whistle in 1995.

A student at Maritzburg College, Joubert took up refereeing as a teenager and despite enjoying a five year career in corporate banking he decided to move into full time refereeing. He took charge on the Sevens circuit in 2003/4 and was given the final, and a year later was added to the Super 12 roster. Later that season he took charge of his first international between the USA and Wales in Connecticut in June. He has since taken charge of Six Nations, Tri-Nations and other Tests.

He took charge of the 2010 Super Rugby final between the Bulls and the Stormers and a year later he was selected for the World Cup in New Zealand. Following some strong performances with the whistle, Joubert was chosen to referee the Rugby World Cup final between France and New Zealand. New Zealand prevailed, just, and Joubert was the subject of much criticism from the French for his refereeing of the final. In 2012, Joubert took charge of Wales' Grand Slam decider with France and was also seconded to referee the first Rugby World Cup 2015 qualifier, between Mexico and Jamaica.